Commodity sacking machine with rotatable table having discharging funnels combined with sack supporting chutes



June 6, 1950 H. M. BEESON 2,510,541 I cowaonrrv sacxmc MACHINE wn'n ROTATABLE TABLE v mvms nxscmncmc FUNNELS COMBINED WITH SACK SUPPORTING CHUTES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 2. 1946 mmvron.

June 6, 1950 BEESQN COMMODITY SACKING MACHINE WITH ROTATABLE TABLE HAVING DISCHARGING FUNNELS COMBINED WITH SACK SUPPORTING CHUTES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 2, 1946 Patented June 6, 195

'iT ATABLE TABLE HAVING DISCHARGINGY FUNNELS COMBINED WITH SACK SUP- PORT ING GHUT ES' Hiram M. Beeson, Dallas, Tex. Application July2,i19g6,, SerialNo; 681,041

to machines adapted't The preferable embodiment of the invention consists of acircular table having an'angular peripheral retaining flange with spaced apertures' therethrough for receiving produce for packaging, the table being rotated by a vertical axle attached to a table supporting frame, the axle beingactuated by means of a prime mover and suitable reduction gears. Immediately below the table a conveyor moves continually while the machine is in operation to carry dis charged packages to a point for further handling.

v The principalobject'of'the'invention is to pro? vide an improvedmachine to aid in packaging fresh vegetables:

Another object of the invention isto provide a machine of the character described adapted for rapid packaging of fresh vegetables by a number of workers stationed at intervals around a rotating table.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described, being of simple construction of available materials with the additional feature of easy operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described adapted for economical manufacture and maintenance.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, this invention has further reference to certain features of accomplishment which will become apparent as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, where- Figure l is a fragmentary top plan view of a vegetable packaging machine constructed according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the invention shown partially in section to illustrate the table top construction.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view in greater detail to illustrate pertinent construction details, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the parts shown in Figure 3 to illustrate the manner of releasing filled bags onto the conveyor.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawings, and referring to Figures 1 and 2, a rigid base member l0 supports a prime mover or motor ll having a laterally extending shaft l2 with a bevel gear I3 affixed thereon. The bevel gear l3 engages a similar but larger bevel gear I4 mounted "on a -vertical shaft atfixed to the under'surface of a allel alignment with the base 'I 0.

'Angularly disposed frame members [1, 'aflix'ed to the base l0, support a circumferentially placed dual trackway or'rail l8, the purpose of which will be presently'described; Afperipheral anguel lar flange ofthe table'flt isfperforated at spaced; predetermined intervals ,feach' perforation having; a" trunco-conical annulus or funnel 19 independent therefrom-for the dual purpose of engaging theopenfend of a bag 20f and'to provide an'opening'for receiving produce tobe packed into the. bag 20 so retained in anerect position. "A flanged; dependent plate orjchutei 2 l afiixed'at right. angle to theperip'heralf'flang'e of" the table 16;; centrally placedwith'preference'to the annulus IQ. for the purpose of affording a rest for one side; of the bag 20 while being packed. A flat plate" or flap 22 is hinged at the lower end of the plate 2| thus forming a point of rest for the bag 20 while being packed.

The reason for hinged connection will be more fully explained hereinafter. Angularly disposed supporting bars 23 serve to maintain the plate 2| rigidly in its position with relation to the table l6.

In operation as a vegetable packing table the produce to be packed is placed upon the flat portion of the table I6 in a manner to leave the apertures accessible to workers stationed at intervals around the table It. The motor H is energized thereby starting the rotation of the table [6 in a counterclockwise direction. A continuous conveyor belt 24 moves in unison with the rotation of the table I6 to carry packed bags to a point of further handling. Rigid side rails 25 serve to retain the bag 20 upon the conveyor belt 24 to the point of further handling or disposal.

In the process of packing, a bag 20 is placed upon the plate 22, its open end engaging the outer surface of the annulus I9, the plate 22 being slidably supported upon the dual trackway IS. A worker manually places through the aperture and annulus IS a suflicient quantity of produce to substantially fill the bag 20. The filled bag, being continually moving by virtue of the rotation of the table I6, is carried to a point 26 of the trackway [8 Where the normal continuance of the outer portion of the trackway is abruptly terminated, as shown in detail in Figure 4. At this point 26 the inner portion of the trackway I8 is offset inwardly and downwardly, the resultant loss of support of the plate 22 allowing said plate 22 to drop, thus releasing the IS; "the Y lattes table It in parpacked bag 20 to fall upon the conveyor belt 24 to be carried thereby to a point of disposal.

From the point 26 the inner trackway l8 curves upwardly and outwardly until it assumes its normally curvilinear position at point 21, this gradual resumption of its position serving to raise the plate 22 to its normal bagsupporting position as the table l6 continues to' rotate.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be Within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A commodity sacking machine comprising a circular rotatable table having an inclined, circumferential flange provided with equldlstantly spaced openings, a funnel embracing the wall of each of said openings and depending from the underside of said-flange and through which. commodity is deposited intoasack from said table, an inclined chute disposedunder each oi tunnels and also depending irom said fiange for supporting a sack inv filling position, a flap hinged to the lower edge or chute, an an:- nular rail sub'jacen't to said flange adapted to holdjsaid flap in 'ele'vated position, said railhaving therein an abrupt drop and-a gradual.rise to respectively (release and resume the support 7. of said flap to discharge 'a filled sack from. said" chute and means for rotating said table, 7 V

2. A commodity sacking machine et-merging" a r'ot'atabl'e table. having an inclined annu ar flange provided with annular-Ty spaced openin s. p

Number an. inclined chute attachedto and suspended below said flangefadjacent each opening. therein, a tunnel embracing the wall "of each opening below said. flange adapted to retain a sack and through which commodity from said table is thrust into said sack, a flap hinged to the bottom of each of said chutes, an annular and stationary rail disposed below said flange to support the flaps of said chutes and WhOSe continuity i broken at one point by an abrupt drop and a gradual rise to respectively drop said flaps to release a filled sack. and to assume support of unfilled sacks and means for rotating said table.

3. A machine for sacking leafy vegetables including a rotatable table adapted to support the ilegetables to be sacked, an annular, inclined retaining' flange surrounding the perimeter of said table and haying annularly spaced openings adjace'nt its periphery through which vegetables are manually thrust, means under said flange and embracing, the wall of each of said openings on which a sack is mounted to receive said vegetables, an inclined chute adjacent said sack mounting means, a hingfedly displaceable flap on a sh s r Supporting a wki n nnu a and stationary rail below s aid table ior maintaining said flap in sack supporting position a and whose continuity is interrupted at ,one point by ,7 an abrupt drop to releasesaid flap to discharge a filled sack and an adjacent gradual rise to returnsaid flap to s ack supporting position and means for rotating said table. v I

M. BEESON.

REFERENCES .ci'rnn The following references are of record .in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS V Name Date I,5',55,350- Deron 'e Sept. 29, 1925 1,626,101 Soubier May 3, 1927 2,285,279

Hohl et a1 June 2, 1942 

